Baptism of Alejandro pictures

Email from Oct 13

Being with Elder Gomez is better than just ok. Things are fantastic here. We're working hard and being obedient, so that we're worthy of miracles. We're always laughing and happy, so that helps with our unity as a companionship. During language study with Elder Gomez, I realize how strange English is. For example, the world produce. If you emphasize the o like prOduce, it's fruits and veggies. but if you emphasize the u like prodUce, it's like a verb. strange.

I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in Spanish!!! Now I'm starting again, but I'm not just going to read, I'm going to study it a little further and use the cross references and have some fun. But I want to know how yall's reading of the BoM is going. So, are yall reading?

I'm here to remind yall what the profets and apostles said. You guys have to introduce the missionaries to a friend, neighbor, family member, or someone that's not a member before Christmas! As the family of two missionaries, you have to complete this challenge of the living day profets and apostles!!

Had a baptism this past Sunday! His name is Alejandro Lopez. I contacted him a while back on the BUS! And I was able to see him change from a bus contact to a progressing investigator to a baptism and soon to be confirmation (this Sunday). It literally has been amazing. We had ups and downs, but hey, it all worked out in the end! And on Sunday, we found out the Presidente Brough was going to attend the baptismal service of the Secretaries (in our ward). What a miracle that we had a baptism that same day and time, so he could see us also. But Presidente Brough said a few words at the baptism, so that was really cool. Also, we had a recent convert, Jaquelin (baptized the 15 of Septiembre) talk and bear testimony. It was super powerful. She's going to be a great member of the church. After the baptismal service, Presidente Brough talked to her about serving a mission. The service of Alejandro was great. It's why we're here, to baptize and bring people to Christ.

Today exactly is my 5 month anniversary!! Wow, I can't believe it's already been 5 months! The time really does just fly by. Just about a year and a half left, crazy!

We've got a family of 5 (three baptisms) that is progressing nicely to be baptized on the 27th. We just need to get the mom and dad married, which shouldn't be too hard. The only reason they aren't married now is because they just haven't done it. So with our help, we'll get them married. And in a year, sealled in the temple for all time and eternity.

We're hoping, working, and praying for a baptism this Sunday. His name is Lasaro and he's got the attendances to church needed and we've taught him everything. We've had to take the approach of teaching him as though a child could understand. It's been difficult, but a great experience.

We had a really great experience contacting. On Friday, we contacted an Hermana. She told us to come back on Saturday when her husband and children would be in the house. So, of course, we wouldn't miss the opportunity to teach a family, so we returned Saturday. But, of course, they weren't there. But a daughter answered the door, about 25 or so. We asked if her family was there, she said no. we asked if we could share the message with her. She then continued to lift her arm as if to look at her wrist at her watch. But she had no watch on. She then stared at her wrist for a good 10 seconds, and replied to us. 'Uhh, I have someone here visiting.' 1. You need to look at your watch to remember that you have someone visiting? 2. I almost asked, ALMOST, 'Hermana, what time is it?' But I didn't. Elder Gomez and I continued to laugh for this moment for a good 10 minutes. And even to this day, when one of us brings it up, we laugh pretty good.

I love it here in Guatemala!! I'm safe. I'm healthy. I'm happy.

I love yall!!!

--Elder Hunt

Recent Pictures from Elder Santiago

The sign says, "We sell wood, injections, and IV's. All hours of the day."

I wouldn't trust them!!! 

This sign in his neighborhood makes Elder Santiago laugh multiple times a day.

 Jaquelin being baptized

 Elder Santiago and Elder Suarez

The district

 Companion photo shoot

This little car is actually a speaker. All the teenagers have them.

Email from Oct 6

 There's not too much to say this week. It was a normal week in the field. We contacted more than 500 people, so things kind of blur together. 

Conference was this past weekend!! It was fantastic. General Conference is like Christmas for Missionaries. On Saturday, we only taught one lesson, because we had 6 hours of General Conference to attend and the Stake Center is far from my area. So we just went around contacting all the members- ended the day with more than 130 contacts. I can't even begin to tell you some stuff I learned from Conference. Just going to say two things about it.

1) there are more than 15,000,000 members in the church. Every member has a challenge from the living profets and apostles to introduce the missionaries to at least one person before Christmas. So you have to complete this challenge! If you want me to find the people ready for the Gospel in Guatemala, you have to do the missionary work at home too.

2) a quote from Jeffrey R. Holland. it's mas o menos 'If the bitter cup doesn't pass from before you, drink it, and be strong.' Wow. When he said this, what power! Life will not be easy, but that never means we give up. We take what life gives us and we are always, ALWAYS, strong in the faith of our God and our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

My companion is Elder Gomez. He's actually been awesome. He came into this change knowing that I wouldn't accept any form of disobedience, neither would Presidente Brough, neither would the Lord. So, the only thing we've been working on really, is getting him to walk faster. You guys would be astonished by how fast I walk right now. When I walk with some people, they literally have to jog beside me. There is Urgency in the Work!!! But other than that, there are some little things, but not many. We correct things and go on. Mainly, the way I've corrected him is by my example. I'm not one to be confrontational, but i have been leading by example. Presidente Brough responds to  my emails every week (he doesn't for other missionaries). This week he said something that made me smile. 'I have absolutely perfect confidence in Elder Hunt. Wow, I love Presidente Brough.

We have about 7 or 8 people progressing nicely for baptisms now. It's awesome. I'll give a list of names just in case someone wants to pray by name for them. Alejandro Lopez; Junior and Maria and their family; Wilder Alvarado; Lasaro Hernandez; Blanca Morales; Daniela and Cindy Monterosso. We are hoping and praying to reach our goal of 6 baptisms this month. Our purpose as missionaries is to baptize. We find to baptize. We teach to baptize. We work faithfully, diligently, and obediently...to baptize.

I love my drunk people here in Guatemala. They make my mission quite a bit more exciting. On Saturday, we were waiting for a bus to take us back to the Stake Center- 8 missionaries total, 2 NorteAmericanos. Then this drunk guy started walking up to us. Usually, they come up asking for money or asking for us to save their souls. This guy was different. He saw me and the other Norte and came up to us. He started to ask us to fight him. Why, we ask. The only reason is that because we're Gringos. hahaha. We kept denying. He was like, yall are so much bigger than me, fight me. fight me. fight me. hahah. I really wanted just to push him over because he was super unsteady on his fight--thanks to the alcohol- but I didn't. We just left. 

This week has not been easy. I received Elder Suarez 3 weeks ago. After two weeks, when we started to work with good flow and when he started to know the area, he had to leave and I had to receive a missionary that isn't exactly obedient--but he is now. So I've had to introduce Elder Gomez to all the people and the area. After just having done so! It's not easy to be a missionary a part of Emregency Changes.

About my Spanish? Here's a little story. The first day, I asked Elder Gomez how much time he has out in the mission. He said 14 months. Then he asked me. When I said 4, he was shocked. I asked why he was shocked. He said he would have guessed 10 months based on my Spanish!! Yea! I talk like someone that's been here almost a year! Walking into the CCM with zero Spanish, and progressing to where I am now. In reality, I'm forgetting how to talk English. I can write and type English, but speaking is hard. 

But I love yall!!! Guatemala is crazy! I love it so much! I pass 5 months this next week and I can't believe it. I'm getting old. Time is so fast out here serving the Lord.

--Elder Hunt